Broom-protector.



W. H. FITZ GERALD. BROOM PROTECTOR. ICATION FILED 5] nvawfoz Patented Dec. 14, 1915,

un'iirltn srarias rnrnrir onr ron WALTER H. FITZ GERALD, 0F BR-GOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR 6F FOUR-TENTHS TU LOUIS K. TILT, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

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Application filed October 15, 1815.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that T, WALTER H. FITZ Gna- ALD. a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city oi Brooklyn, county of Kings, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Broom-Protectors.

This invention relates to protectors for brooms which are sometimes called bridles or binders, but has the object of protecting the broom against spreading and consequent rapid deterioration.

A common practice has been to slide stockinet material or a sectionof other endless-band fabric over the broom, in order to prevent the straws from spreading, then sewing the fabric on to prevent it from slipping. However, this is known to be inetlicient and is not'alone yielding but invariably slips, and is at best a makeshift, although in a measure affording some protection.

Among the objects of my invention are to produce an article of this character of utmost simplicity compared with former suggestions, that will hold firmly in place, be adjustable if desired, and cheap to manufacture and simple to apply.

A specific form of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side view ot'a broom. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the protector de- 'tached.

In Fig. 1 the broom end 1 has the broom handle 2, and the collar 3, at which the straws are confined in the usual manner.

The protector comprises two hinged members AB. These members respectively, have the upper looped ends ab bent as shown, and encircling two pivots C, after encircling which the arms Z b and a a extend beyond the pivot substantially parallel and are bent inwardly toward each other at Z)"a, respectively, where in this form they are secured by a clip, but may be confined in any desired manner. Passing this juncture each end of the two arms Z)-Z) and a'a are bent backward and formed into hooks d and cl.

Plates D of thin sheet, are formed with an eye at their end, and each plate is attached by the eye of one end, to the loop d, which is then closed so as to secure the plates D, respectively. The other ends of the plates Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented net. is, rare.

Serial No. 55,854.

D each have riveted to the eye at the opposite end a movable plate E. These plates E have openings 6, which extend to ditferent distances from the pivot connection between plate E and plate D. At diametrically opposite extremities of plate D are eyes 6.

It will now be seen from the above description that the protector or bridle or binder is a very simple harness for a broom, which would be applied in the following manner: The protector is opened as shown in Fig. 2, and the broom handle is slipped between the pivot CC and past the bend ab, so that the protector may be pushed down about the body of the broom. The wire bends are so fashioned that when snugly pushed into place the bend a-b will fit snugly on either side of the straw bound section at the broom end of the stick. When the arms AB are pressed together the bends at the top a?;, will fit snugly into position, and upon further confining of arms A-E the wire of the protector springs sufiiciently so as to permit the extreme bends ab to be brought into pressed contact with the opposite edges of the broom proper. The plate D is then swung into position and a buttonhook, or other convenient implement engaged with the eye 6, and the plate pulled tautly toward the side of the broom to permit the hooking of the eye 6 on plate E, into the hooked end d. This holds and confines the broom straws against lateral spreading.

It will be clear that the plate E can be pivoted on plate D, so that either of the eyes 6 can be used to hook into the hook (Z, thereby permitting variation in the width of the protector or bridle. The variation in ef' fective length of the clamping plate D to suit requirements may be varied at pleasure within such limits as may be predetermined.

The fitting of the protector, and particularly the engagement of the upper ends ab, with the bound ends of the straws, prevents entirely the chance of slipping of the proa matter of well known economy so far as concerns any shapes or twists required in my construction.

The protector, as a whole, offers no projections which would be likely to catch against objects and scratch objects, and, furthermore, will have all necessary strength, although made extremely light in weight. On the whole, it is a device which may be sold at such small cost as to warrant purchase for the purpose which is already well known to he an actual need, while it is not known that any previous device has embodied the characteristics which would make a broom protector universally available, as is the case with my invention.

Various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention, although I have shown only one particular embodiment; but

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A broom protector comprising two securing and confining hinged members, the portions of said members on one side of the hinge serving to secure the'protector in position, and the portions on theother side of confining member, for the purpose described.

2. A broom protector comprising two looped members adapted to contorm'to the opposite sides of a broom-head, pivots to secure said members and permit hinging of the same, the ends of said loops on one side of said hinges adapted to engage the broom at the uncture of the head and the stick to position said protector, the portions of said loops on the opposite side of said hinges adapted to confine the opposite edges'of the broom-head, adjustable means to secure and lock said confining ends in operative position. 1 i r In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses, this 7th day of October 1915. WALTER I-I. FITZGERALD.

lVitnesses:

HER 'ANN F. CUNTZ,"

H. MUCHMORE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents Washington, D. G. r 

